Why Pars Noah Cannot Be Exactly Like the L90?
Pars Noah has entered the market drawing on the engineering legacy of the Tondar 90, but a shared platform alone cannot guarantee that the driving experience, technical durability and maintenance costs of the two vehicles will be entirely identical. Introduction: Is the name L90 enough to build a successful vehicle? The Tondar 90, also known as the L90, [...] Originally published as "Why Pars Noah Cannot Be Exactly Like the L90?" in Akharin Khodro.
Pars Noa has entered the market relying on the technical heritage of Thunder 90, but the common platform alone cannot guarantee that the driving experience, technical durability and maintenance costs of these two cars will be completely the same.
Thunder 90 or L90 was one of the long-lasting economic sedans in the Iranian market, which was able to find a special place among buyers with the combination of suitable cabin space, reliable engine, relatively simple technical structure and reasonable maintenance cost. Even after the production stop, the credibility of this car remained in the second-hand market and many customers still consider it a suitable option for long-term use.
Now Pars Khodro has tried to bring back a part of this heritage to the market by introducing Pars Nova. This car uses the technical structure of Thunder 90 family, but it is different from the old model in parts such as engine, steering system, body design, cabin and equipment.
At first glance, we may consider Pars Noa to be the same as L90 with a new look, however, the structural similarity does not necessarily mean the same performance and ownership experience. To understand this issue, we must examine the differences between the two cars beyond the lights and bumpers.
The platform can be considered the main engineering framework of the car, on which the floor structure, wheelbase, location of the main components and the overall architecture of the car are formed. The use of a common platform makes two cars close to each other in terms of basic dimensions, cabin space and some structural features, but it does not mean that all parts and their functions are the same.
Pars Noa still benefits from the familiar architecture of Tander 90. A suitable space for passengers, a spacious trunk and a relatively simple structure of the suspension system are among the features that are possible by maintaining this architecture. But parts of the car can be redesigned or have different specifications without completely changing the platform.
Even if the architecture of the suspension system is the same, differences in springing, shock absorbers, bushings, component weights, and steering settings can affect ride smoothness and stability. For this reason, the mere structural similarity is not enough to conclude about the same behavior of two cars.
One of the important factors in the success of Thunder 90 in Iran was Renault's K4M engine. This 1.6-liter, 16-valve four-cylinder engine produced about 105 horsepower and 148 Nm of torque in the well-known L90 versions. Its output numbers were not very impressive, but the combination of the engine with the gearbox and the weight of the car provided acceptable performance in everyday use.
On the other hand, Pars Noa uses the ME16 engine; A four-cylinder, 1.6-liter, 16-valve engine that is similar to the TU5 Plus engine family in terms of overall architecture. Depending on the specifications announced for the desired version, the power of this engine is reported to be around 111 to 113 horsepower and its torque is in the range of 144 to 150 Nm.
These numbers show that Pars Noa is close to L90 in terms of nominal output power and may even provide more power, but higher power on paper does not mean duplicating the performance of another engine. How to produce torque at different speeds, gas pedal response, heat management and coordination of the engine with the gearbox also play a role in the driving experience.
The most important difference is related to work experience. K4M has been used in numerous cars in the Iranian market for years, and the repairers and owners have extensive experience of common defects, durability and repair costs. ME16 also needs time and real experience of owners to prove its capabilities. Do not forget that the most important advantage of the K4M engine was its durability and reliability, which was more valuable than the output power. This is a characteristic that we probably won't see in an engine with PSA's footprint of that quality.
Of course, this does not mean that the ME16 engine is less durable. The durability of an engine cannot be determined simply by comparing the name and technical specifications. Production quality, maintenance conditions and performance of parts are more important in high functions.
The manual version of the L90 used a five-speed gearbox, and its automatic versions were also available with a four-speed gearbox. In its well-known manual version, Pars Noa is equipped with a five-speed gearbox, but the number of gears alone is not a good measure to measure the quality of power transmission.
Gear ratios, gear engagement quality, clutch performance and engine coordination can affect acceleration, uphill driving and fuel consumption. Even with the same transmission, the driving experience can be different if the new engine performs best at different revs.
Al-90 has a well-known technical composition in the Iranian market, and its performance has been checked over the years in various conditions. Pars Noa must prove the ability of its technical complex in urban traffic, long trips and continuous use.
L90 uses hydraulic steering. A system that has become a part of the driving personality of this car for many owners. Pars Nova comes with electric power steering that can make turning the steering wheel easier during parking and low speed maneuvers.
It should be noted that electric and hydraulic steering do not necessarily give the same feedback to the driver. The weight of the steering wheel and the way the road surface information is transmitted may be different. Of course, one cannot be considered better in all situations based on the type of system; The quality of design and settings is also important. But overall, the steering wheel update in Pars Noa is one of the positive aspects of this Pars Khodro sedan.
In the suspension department, the overall architecture of Pars Noa is close to L90 and uses MacPherson system in the front and semi-independent axle with a torsion beam in the back. This structure is seen in many economic cars due to its simplicity and controllable manufacturing cost.
But as mentioned, the type of suspension system is not the only factor that determines the ride quality. The specifications of springs and shock absorbers, bushings, tires and wheel angle adjustment also have an effect on shock absorption and car stability. Therefore, without a practical examination of the production version, it cannot be claimed that the Pars Nova offers exactly the same ride as the Thunder 90. Be careful that the important thing about L90 was its durability in all parts, but can this feature be repeated for Pars Nova with new parts?
One of the obvious differences between Pars Noa and L90 can be seen in the exterior design. The redesign of the lights, grille and bumpers has made the appearance of this sedan different from the old models, but in the side view, the roots of the Thunder 90 design can still be recognized.
Using the existing structure is economically understandable. Developing a completely new car requires investment in design, production equipment and extensive technical tests. Using the previous architecture allows the car manufacturer to offer a product with a different appearance and some specifications without incurring all these costs.
But in any case, the redesign of the body cannot eliminate all the limitations of the old architecture. The overall proportions, the shape of the roof and the position of the windows still follow the previous pattern. Therefore, Pars Noa should be considered more of a redesigned product than a completely new generation of Thunder 90.
This issue is not necessarily a weakness because the L90 was formed from the beginning with the aim of providing a suitable space and controlling the production cost. The important thing is that you should not confuse the change of appearance with the complete transformation of the car's structure.
There are changes in the Pars Noa cabin, such as the use of a new steering wheel, a multimedia display, and the updating of some dashboard components. These items update the interior compared to the old versions of the L90, but the overall structure of the cabin is still close to the previous model.
Adding a display or changing the design of the steering wheel alone does not mean a complete redesign of the interior. The final quality of the cabin depends on the material of the covers, the accuracy of the assembly, the function of the keys and the resistance of the parts against vibration and long-term use. Something that was well implemented in Thunder 90 and despite the fact that the parts did not convey high quality in terms of appearance, but in terms of assembly and durability over time, they performed very well.
Pars Noa offers more facilities in terms of safety and comfort equipment than many old versions of L90. Equipment such as electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring, rear camera and light and rain sensors are seen in the announced specifications of this car, although the exact equipment needs to be checked according to the final version.
The presence of stability control can help maintain the car's path in certain conditions, but electronic facilities should not be equated with structural safety. The number of airbags, the performance of the structure during an accident and the level of protection of the occupants are also important. Despite some upgrades, Pars Nova still has limitations in the number of airbags compared to some newer cars.
One of the reasons for the popularity of the L90 was the extensive experience of the owners of its technical durability and repairability. Long-term use of a vehicle in high numbers provides useful information about common faults, component life, and maintenance costs. Also, the network of repairmen who are familiar with the car and its parts market is gradually expanding.
Pars Nova uses a familiar platform and some common technical solutions, but it cannot be assumed that all its parts are the same as the L90. Different engines, some cabin components, body parts and new equipment may require different supply and service routes.
Even in common parts, the quality of raw materials, supplier and production process can affect the final performance. This issue does not mean a definite decline in the quality of Pars Noa, but it shows that the quality of each product should be measured based on production samples and the real experience of the owners.
The same applies to maintenance cost and resale value. The credibility of L90 in the second-hand market has been formed over the years, while Pars Noa must prove its durability, availability of parts and quality of after-sales service in order to gain similar trust.
Pars Nova is Pars Khodro's attempt to bring back some of the advantages of Tander 90 to today's Iranian market. This car has a familiar architecture, a suitable family environment, a spacious trunk, a naturally aspirated engine and more features than many old versions of the L90. However, the use of the ME16 engine, the change of the steering system, the redesign of the cabin, and the possible differences in parts and the supply chain make it impossible to attribute all the technical features and ownership experience of the L90 to Pars Nova without checking.
The L90 didn't succeed just because of its platform. The history of driving forces, the quality of parts, the simplicity of the car system and the extensive experience of the owners also played a role in the formation of its credibility. In order to reach such a position, Pars Noa must follow the same path with its own technical specifications and production conditions.
Therefore, the main question is not why Pars Nova is not exactly like L90, but whether it can maintain the architectural strengths of Tander 90 and provide technical durability, build quality and acceptable maintenance cost along with them? The final answer to this question will be determined neither in the name of the car nor in its appearance, but in the performance of the production versions and the experience of the owners in the coming years.
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